* Mar 2017: On Rio Ferdinand: "He's been brilliant. Before big games he'll send me a text with a bit of advice. He's a legend, and someone I can learn a lot from".

Historically, Liverpool usually buy in first-team centre-backs (as opposed to promoting from the Academy), and the optimum age to go straight into the first team is 23-25 (see: Agger, Skrtel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Lovren, Matip etc).

At 24, Keane is the perfect age for a move to Liverpool, but the biggest plus is that he is yet to suffer a major injury, which - given the regular injuries to Matip and Lovren - is an important factor.

Everton, Chelsea, and Man City are also reportedly interested, and given the fact he's a Brit, Keane's transfer fee is likely to be exorbitant. After all, Man City paid a ridiculous £47.5m for John Stones (another English central defender in his early 20s), and Burnley will probably seek a similar fee.

Skybet currently have Liverpool as 2nd favourites to sign Keane this summer.